Neither the X Max W family nor our 2016 assessment of its virtues have changed; while this commentary is a repost of last season’s report, the associated FIND buttons connect to 2017 starting inventory.
Make no mistake, a 110 flex is a lot of boot for a woman who isn’t competing, but if you have the skills, you’re going to be insanely happy in the X Max 110W. The expandable shell can handle the most common complaints issuing from the female foot and is even elastic in the cuff area, a godsend for the athletic calf. Even if you already fancy yourself an expert skier, there’s an excellent chance the X Max 110W will make you better. There are so many subtle things this shell does to make it extraordinary that the heat-mold-ability – which is astoundingly effective – is just a bonus.
All the essential features of the 110W live on in the suppler – and more suitable for the 20-day-per-season skier – X Max 90W. As is the case with the men’s models, don’t be in too big a hurry to sidle sideways into a wider X Pro 90W unless you really need the width. The American woman’s foot (yes, Virginia, there are differences among nationalities) is notoriously narrower in the heel and wider in the forefoot, proportionately, than a man’s. If you widen the forefoot area unnecessarily, you risk losing some retention in the heel, where it matters most.